Can I download or compare a YouTube or Vimeo link?

A link asset is a YouTube or Vimeo video you add by pasting its URL, instead of uploading a file. It streams straight from YouTube or Vimeo, so it uses none of your storage — Editlock never holds a copy of it.

Because there’s no file on our side, link assets behave a little differently from uploaded files.

Can I download a YouTube or Vimeo link?

No. A link asset is a pointer to a video hosted on YouTube or Vimeo — there’s no file stored in Editlock to hand over, and Editlock doesn’t pull videos down from those platforms. There’s no download button on link assets anywhere: not in the asset menu, not on a share link, and not when you select several assets at once.

If you need the actual file, get it from the original source — the person who owns the YouTube or Vimeo video, or your own copy of the export.

Can I compare a link with another asset?

Not right now. Side-by-side compare works for uploaded files. If you select a YouTube or Vimeo link as one of the two items, Compare stays greyed out. Comparing link assets is on our list for a future update.

What can I do with a link asset?

Everything else in the review flow works:

• Play it in the review player
• Leave timestamped comments and draw annotations on the frame
• Set an approval status
• Add and browse versions
• Share it for review with clients or teammates

What happens when I share a link asset?

When you share a single YouTube or Vimeo link, the Allow downloads option is locked off — there’s nothing to download. If you share a folder or several assets at once, any uploaded files in it can still be downloaded (if you allow it); the YouTube and Vimeo links in the same share simply can’t.

See also: What do the share options mean? and How do I compare two versions?